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i have used the cheap WM blue pad several times and find it to work ok on the comfort level. the one i have is old and pretty flexable. i agree with the other poster and moisture can be a issue. i tend to find this problem in the early mornings. all in all if you are just starting out i say go for it. you can always make a diy UQ for under $50. check out diy gear supply for prices.

you dont need to spend allot for an underquilt. depending on where you live and your camping season preferences, you can run a Poncho Liner Underquilt on your hammock for apx 40 bucks. It takes so little effort to convert a Poncho Liner to an Under Quilt and an Under Quilt is SOOO much better than a pad, or a pad with wings on it or any of that stuff.

The statement was correct that experienced hammockers dont fiddle around with pads.

You should try camping out with just a pad for a while. Also determine how frequently you go out and sleep in your hammock. If you're someone like Shug where you're going out on one trip a month, it'd be worth it. If you're like me and get out once or twice a season (if you're lucky...stupid job) then it might make more sense to stick with a pad.

I reviewed the pad vs. UQ extensively before my first weeklong hang recently. I bought a Cabela's ccf pad for about $12. It is not wide enough to cover the shoulders and hips, so I cut it in half and placed the pieces in a cross shape. In practice this kept me covered and warm, but it was not too comfortable. There were folds and adjustments that I didn't like. I then rigged my down parka as an UQ, which was really easy and it worked pretty well. I just ran some cord through the arms and attached the cords to the ends of the hammock. It was warm and cozy, but I thought it somewhat heavy and bulky for portaging. I then had some gift $ left over at REI and bought an Eno Hotspot, an SPE (about $20?), and then a WM blue pad for it ($8). They worked great on my trip. It was comfortable and light. I rolled them and squashed the roll inside the top of our portage packs for an easy solution.